Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-09
GARRETT'S GRIEVANCE
He Objects to the Telegraph
Transfer.
LEGAL MEASURES MENACED.
The Gould Party Ready for the
Fray-A "Sun" Editorial
on the Subject.

Associated fresS Dlsp patcucs W INC hEEALD
New YORK, October S.-A state
ment made in this mornings papers
to the effect that Robert Garrett, re-
ferring to the absorption of the Balti-
more and Ohio telegraph lines by the
Western Union, said last night, at is
no trade, gentlemen" caused consid-
erable talk to-day, but no excitement.
George Gould treated the story laugh
ingly. He said that he did not be-
lieve Garrett was correctly quoted.
"Although the collateral has not been
turned over, the agreement has been
signed and is in our possession. There
is no Ba. a.timore and Ohio telegraph
now, as their wires are part of our sys-
tenn"
AN AUTHORITATIVE STATEMENT.
1t was announced this morning on
apparently good authority that Robert
Garrett emphatically denies that the
Baltimore and Ohio telegraph has
been absorbed by the Western Union.
He is represented as saying that he
will fight the alleged transfer and
feels sure Of winning. Gould said that
the B. & o. owed Garrett personally
between $3.OOO,OOO and $4,OOO,000.
w. B. Somerville, of the Western
Union, was heard to say that DR.. Nor
vim Green did not believe the story of
CARROTS denial, and that DR.. Green
was 80 confident there would be no
trouble about the sale that he had
decided to issue no statement about
the matter. 49,
A REPORTERS INQU IRIEs.
| Robert Garrett to-day refused to see
reporters or to say whether the great
telegraph deal was legally completed
or not. Edward Stokes smiled as he
sat in his private office when a report
er accosted him with:
"Did Mr.. Garrett say to YOU at Bal
timore that there would not be a deal
with the Western Union?"
"Ho said that there would be fun
somewhere. He was very much ex-
cited and abused Jay Gould without
stint. If there had been trade he
said it would not hold water"
"Did he threaten to sue Mr.. Gould ?'
eyes, he threatened all sorts OF
things. He said that he had been
sold out by his friends and that he
would get even all around. | never
saw him so excited. He declared
that judgment had been taken on him
when he was away, but that the con-
spirators would find that their plans
would not hold" r
A "sUN" EDITORIAL.
The following will appear as the
leading editorial article in to-mor-
rows San: "The Times this morn
ing minated that the Western Union
will not get the Baltimore and Ohio
Telegraph Company system because
Garrett will oppose the transfer. Mr..
Garrett is powerless in the matter, if
for no other reason than that Mr..
Gould has no competitor for the prop
erty, and inasmuch as its sale is COM
pulsory and he is the only purchaser
it must 20 to him. Mr.. Gould, until
a few days since had competitor for
it in the shape of Western Associa-
ton of business men, who were will
ing to give higher price than Gould
has paid, but the snarp practice which
has suddenly taken it off the market
has made it inn ossible to proceed
further in the matter even if a legal
and practicable opportunity were still
available, which is doubtful.
AN UNRELIABLE MONOPOLY.
The establishment of the Western
Union with it's undisputed monopoly
OF so great and vital a public service
as the telegraph will not be viewed
with either content or resignation by
the public. Distrust of Gould and
his associates and the suspicion that
attaches to their methous and prac-
tices, are too profound and too well
rooted in the public mind as to admit
such men being accepted trustees of
this great public service. We should
not be prepared to intrust Gould and
his colleagues with the admin
istration Of the postal system of
our country. 1t would imply in
the public estimation great
calamity. and yet his administration
of the telegraph is likely to be much
more prejudicial to public and private
interests than his administration OF
the postal system could possibly be.
GOVERNMENT TELEGRAPHS UNDEsIRED.
1t is long lane that has no turn.
ing, but it may as we'll be understood
now as later that the government o1
the United States shall not acquire
the telegraphs of the country, and
that no Vaccinations of Mr.. Gould
and no oppression of individuals, pub.
lie or private, will ever blackmail and
coerce the people Of this country into
consenting that the Western Union
shall be unloaded upon the govern
, c.I o,o ,,,.11 Io okha, nd ~.